Mount Bandilaan

Free entrance

Mount Bandilaan is the highest peak on Siquijor, rising to 557 metres above sea level in the centre of the island. Locally it's known as the island's "holy mountain": in local folklore it's considered home to spirits and deities, and it remains a site of pilgrimage and prayer.

A forest trail — steep in places, through dense woodland and rocky terrain — leads past a grotto, a prayer garden and a meditation area on the way up. At the top, a small chapel lets visitors light candles and pray, next to a 15-metre viewing tower (a flight of roughly 140-150 steps) that opens onto a 360° panorama of the island and, on a clear day, neighbouring islands on the horizon. The mountain sits within a roughly 212-hectare protected forest reserve — one of the island's main watersheds, and home to rare and endemic species.

Practical: entrance is free, and the site is generally open from 6am to 7pm. There's no public transport up; a rented scooter (around ₱300/day) or a tricycle/habal-habal from town (roughly ₱100-300) are the usual ways up the sometimes-steep access road — wear a helmet. Sunset is considered the best time to be at the viewing tower.